Berisha: EU candidate status is the next goal

TIRANA, Oct. 4 – Prime Minister Sali Berisha has said that receiving the candidate status from the European Union remains the next top goal for Albania.
Berisha also said he was convinced that the tiny Balkan country would enjoy the visa liberalization later this year.
Albania applied for candidate status last year and is waiting for a response from Brussels, which is to come in November likely together with the annual progress report from the bloc.
The European Commission is due to issue its decision on the membership application of Albania and Montenegro in early November.
Stefan Fuele, the commissioner for enlargement and neighborhood policy, will put forward what is expected to be a positive assessment of these two Western Balkan countries’ preparedness for EU membership. He will also present an assessment of the impact the accession of Albania and Montenegro may have on relevant EU policies.
Both countries applied for membership over eighteen months ago, Albania in April 2009. A year after the two countries handed over their replies to the commission’s questionnaire – a document containing over 2,000 questions related to all segments of the EU acquis and the Copenhagen criteria for EU membership.
Since then, the commission has been drafting its opinion based on the answers.
The most recent signals sent by the commission suggest that both countries may expect a positive response.
The commission said it also appreciates the positive role Albania and Montenegro play in the still fragile Western Balkan region. As other countries in the region, Albania and Montenegro are regularly requested to intensify reforms in the areas of justice and the fight against corruption and organized crime. They are also criticized for insufficient administrative capacity.
Provided that the commission’s pinion is positive, the issue will be transferred to the council for final decision. Traditionally, it is up to the EU Presidency to decide when to put the issue on the council’s agenda.
When taking up the helm of the EU, Belgium said it would have a pragmatic approach to enlargement, suggesting that only countries that meet all “strict and fair” criteria may expect progress. According to the rules of procedure, a decision on the opening of accession talks with an applicant country is taken by unanimity. Given that some member states are presently not very enthusiastic about enlargement, the decision on opening talks with Albania and Montenegro might be postponed to next year.
The most recent signals sent by the commission suggest that both countries may expect a positive assessment.